Wire-stretcher.



No. 650,983. Patented June 5, I900. W. A. MURRAY.

w|m-: snnzuzmm (Application filed Sept. 26, 1899.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES INVENTOR /5, Mama... mg g gfi ATTORNEY.

NrT D STATES PATENT OFFICE;

WILLIAM ARCHD. MURRAY, OF BOTHWELL, NEW ZEALAND.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 650,983, dated June 5,1900.

Applicati n fil d September 26, 1899. Serial No. 731,726. No model.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that l, WILLIAM AROHIBALD MURRAY, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain and Ireland, residing at Bothwell, Glen Murray, Auckland,in the Province of New Zealand, have invented a certain new and ImprovedMachine for Stretching Wire in Fences and 'lelegraph-Lines and AnalogousPurposes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an im proved wire-st retcher; and it consists in thenovel construction hereinafter set forth, whereby a device for thepurpose stated is produced that will be of light, durable, andefficient. character and one that can be conveniently handled.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification andrepresent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a general view showing the adjacent ends of two wires withthe machine and chain in place. The succeeding figures show portions ona larger scale in two conditions. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing themachine with the lever swung backward to obtain a fresh grip. Fig. 3 isa corresponding View showing the lever swung forward to the other extentof its motion, having correspondingly shortened the connection betweenthe wires. Fig. at is a plan view correspondin g to Fig. 3.

Similar letters ofreference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures where they appear.

A isthe operating-lever, which may be of hard wood faced andstrengthened near the working end by plates of iron or steel.

B B are two base-bars set, mainly, at a sufficient distance apart toallow the lever to be fulcrumed on a pin C between them. The base-bars BB are bent together at one end, and the eyes B on those ends are engagedthrough suitable provision with one of the main wires, (marked P.) Theother end of each of the base-bars is formed With a hook B having abeveled outer face. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) A transverse Stud 13 holdsthese ends of the base-bars a just-suiticient distance apart.

D D are two vibrating bars pivoted at one end to the lever A by meansofa transverse pin D. The other ends of these bars are equipped withhooks D corresponding to the hooks B but facing downward. These bars Dare held a just-suflicient distance apart by a stud D The space betweenthe two bars D D corresponds to that betweenthe basebars B B and in eachis sufficient to receive alternate links of the chain and allow thehooks to engage easily and reliably with the intermediate links. Thelever A may be vibrated rapidly until the slack of the chain and wiresis taken up; but in the last part of the tightening operation, theresistance being considerable, the movements will be slower.

E F are the two series of links in the chain, each link E being short(shown as circular) and each link F being extended or oblong. Assumingthe wire P to be stationary, the chain E F is tied or otherwise stronglyattached to the wire Q, which is to be drawn toward it, and the chainbeing'held with its links E in the horizontal plane, and consequentlywith the links F in the vertical plane, the lever is vibrated and thehooks D engaged at each'back movement over one of the horizontal linksE. At each forward movement of the lever these hooks draw the chainalong, so that toward the end of the movement a new link E is presentedand is easily engaged by the hooks B Then another backward movement ofthe lever A relaxes the hold of the hooks D and the chain being gentlysupported by the hand or otherwise these hooks near the termination ofthe backward movement engage over a fresh link E, and the operation isrepeated. lVhen the chain has been sufficiently taken up and the wires Pand Q have been brought together, their overlapping ends may bepermanently joined in any required manner.

Modifications may be made without departing from the principle orsacrificing the advantages of the invention. Other means than the studsB and-D may be used to hold each pair of books firmly at the properdistance apart. Besides the powerful contraction of a wire, as abovedescribed, the device can be used for a great variety of purposes,including the lifting or shifting of weights and commodities, tighteningof bands in various situations, eminently around bales of goods, and inthe pressing of cotton, hay, aud the like.

t will obviously serve for tightening tele- I wire and comprisinghorizontal links E, subraph and trolley wires. stantially as set forth.

I claim as my invention In testimony that I claim the invention In awire-stretcher, the base-hareonsisting above set forth I aflix mysignature in pres- )f the braced parallel longitudinal sections once oftwo witnesses.

oentinward toward each other and perforated at one end and presentingthe double hooks ARUH) at the other, a lever pivoted to the braces, ashorter hook pivoted to said lever, and a :0 length of chain adapted forattachment to the \Vitnesses:

WM. THORNE, .ToIiN l; CHRISTIE.

